What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Fun time in Portofino

  Brandon B,,Nov 24, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  It was a fun little tour of Genoa, the tour guide was nice but seemed new, the driver was great, plenty of time in Portofino. The only downside was that it was raining, I know they can’t control that, but the bus was leaking water inside from the rain.

• Great way to see Portofino from Genoa

  SarahH70,,Nov 4, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We looked at several options for visiting Portofino. We were limited to time as we arrived by cruise ship so wanted some way of getting there without getting back too late for the ship to sail. This seemed like a great option and we weren't disappointed. Finding the bus was easy, it was parked just across the main road from the cruise terminal entrance. The bus seated 28, and we managed to get 10 tickets for our group by booking in advance. It leaves at 10am sharp, so make sure you arrive in time. The journey started with a little bit of a guided city tour of Genoa, which we didnt expect and it was nice to se a little bit of the city and its beautiful buildings, then we started the picturesque part of the journey to Portofino. The bus parks at the top of the village (arrived 11:30am) and you have to walk down a street to the main square, this didnt really give the expected view of the colourful buildings. We had lunch in the square. Stay away from the restaurants at the waters edge as they will surcharge you 5 Euros + 15% for the view. We opted for Bar Mariuccia in the main square where a beer costs 10 Euros and a really nice Focaccia sandwich was 12 Euros. After lunch we had a walk along the waterfont and a gelato/ice cream, had a look at some of the shops then we walked up the hill to the church on the path towards the lighthouse - this gave those expected views of the buildings and the bay. We returned to the bus at 2:30pm for the direct journey back to Genoa and were dropped off by 3:30pm. You can then use your ticket for the rest of the day on the hop on hop off Genoa bus, but we decided to return to our ship as last aboard was 5pm. We all had a really good day. Our guide Marta was very skilled in the delivery of the city tour at the start of the day and our driver Ste was professional, and we never had any worries about his driving. Highly recommended if like us you want to tick Portofino off your bucket list.

  

  

  

  

• Uncomfortable bus seats more suitable for children.

  Eleanor M,,Oct 28, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  2.00

  The bus is very uncomfortable. I am a size10/12 and I barely fit in the seat. The whole trip I sat on the buckle of the seatbelt and from what I heard around me it was the same for everyone else. Most people did not put the seatbelts on. In addition the microphone was not working on the bus and we listened static. You only need 2 hours tops in Portofino

• Go elsewhere

  Monique M,,Oct 18, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  2.00

  Basically a very overpriced bus ride! Expected commentary each way on the 1.5 hr bus ride, I think she pointed out one square. 3 hours on your own in Portifono way too much, can see it all in 30 mins, tourist trap, extremely over priced, $300 for mediocre lunch. Ridiculous waste of money, save yourself and hire a driver right at the port! One good thing was the driver was excellent on the narrow streets.

• Wonderful Day Tour of Portofino

  Linda T,,Sep 18, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Wonderful day tour of Portifino. Terrific guide and great driver. Well-planned and informative m.We loved it all!

• Loved the trip to...

  Kara L,,Jul 25, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  4.00

  Loved the trip to Portofino. Wasn’t great a/c in the van, but it was during a heatwave. Nothing could have kept up. Our guide and driver were great and provided lots of information.

• Too hot on June 30

  KRISTIN E,,Jun 30, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  2.00

  It was very hot. There was no AC. It was the small red bus and it is not the red double decker bus. The top of the bus is open and you will get sun burn. The girl Georgia was informational. However it was very uncomfortable and people were pushing for the two seats in the front of the bus for the shade. The time is too long in stop. Restaurants and clothing stores are overly priced. It would be nice to see another town.

• Excellent tour, right on...

  Hrishikesh P,,Jun 24, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Excellent tour, right on time, great location and perfect timeline. If doing in summer be ready for open air bus with sunscreen etc.

• Great tour

  Edward R,,Jun 3, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Great tour with enthusiastic guide. Tour was definitely worth the money and time! Portofino is beautiful

• Disorganized Experience – Missed Portofino Excursion and No Refund

  Vacation60549999235,,May 26, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  1.00

  We booked the Portofino excursion from Genova with City Sightseeing, at 59€ per person — a fair price for what seemed like a well-structured experience. Unfortunately, what we encountered was completely disorganized and disappointing. We arrived at the correct meeting point on time, where a staff member told us (and several others) that the bus was full and we had to go to another stop. No one checked our booking or even asked what kind of tour we were taking. Everything felt rushed and chaotic, and without guidance or signage, we had to find our own way to a second stop — in a city we don’t know. Once there, another City Sightseeing bus driver informed us that the Portofino excursion had already departed from the original stop — the very place we had just been told to leave. He dropped us at an information center, where we were denied a refund and treated dismissively. Even a follow-up call to their customer service was met with hostility — the representative blamed us and hung up mid-call when we asked to explain. As a result, we never made it to Portofino. We had to improvise the rest of the day in central Genova, feeling frustrated and disappointed. So far, no refund has been issued, and the only response from City Sightseeing has been defensive, with no acknowledgement of the poor service. 59€ per person may be a fair price for a proper excursion — but when you receive nothing in return, it feels like a deep loss. I’ve escalated the issue to their central office and will update this post if it is resolved properly. Until then, I would advise future travelers to be cautious when booking excursions with City Sightseeing in Genova — especially if you’re not familiar with the area and expect a well-organized experience.

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